INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
Few teams, if any, can match the talent the Chiefs have in the interior of their offensive line. After the disaster that was Super Bowl LV, Kansas City vowed never to let Patrick Mahomes deal with a subpar offensive line again. To their credit, they've excelled in solidifying the inside of their line.
Left guard Joe Thuney is the best pass-protecting guard in football and has been an All-Pro for the last two seasons, including a first-team selection last season. His presence was missed in the final few games of the postseason due to a pectoral injury. Although he’s still recovering, he's expected to be ready for the season. If he can stay healthy, expect him to perform at an All-Pro level yet again.
Now that Jason Kelce is retired, there's a strong argument that Creed Humphrey is the best center in the NFL. He's been elite since entering the league in 2021 and has yet to miss a game in a Chiefs uniform. In just three seasons, he’s already been named to two Pro Bowls and was a second-team All-Pro in 2022. His snapping was an issue at times last season, but he remains an elite player at his position.
At right guard, Trey Smith, while not quite at an All-Pro level, has been consistent in his short NFL career. He's been a solidly above-average starter for each of his three NFL seasons, and the fact that he’s the third-best player on the interior offensive line underscores just how stacked the Chiefs are at this position.
In my opinion, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith comprise the best interior line in all of football. Given how shaky the Chiefs are at offensive tackle, the dominance of their interior offensive line is extremely valuable. If they can maintain their performance, it will provide additional flexibility to support their potentially vulnerable tackle duo.